Switch-operating device.



PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

W. E. HUBBARD.

SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.19, 1905 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WIT NESSES.

ATTORNEYS PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

W. E. HUBBARD. SWITCH OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.19.1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- l/V VENTOI? ili'ZZ-sonZifidZmd WITNESSES:

also showing the cover-plate.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLSON E. HUBBARD, OF DENNIS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HUGH H. HUBBARD, OF DENNIS, TEXAS.

SWITCH-OPERATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed April 19, 1905- Serial No. 256,396.

' Be it known that I,WILLsoN E. HUBB RD,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Dennis, in the county of Parker and State of Texas, have invented a new and Improved Switch-Operating Device, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to the automatic operation of switches by moving trains, and comprises means for accomplishing this purpose in an eflicient and thoroughly-reliable manner without resorting to such ex ensive and complicated devices as have usua 1y been proposed for this pur ose.

Reference is to be ad to the accompany ing drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

.Figure 1 is a plan view on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2 of a portion of a railroad track and switch, showing a switch-operating device embodying the principle of my invention and a portion of a car equipped with means for controlling the'operating device. Fig. 2 is a section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and showing in sectiona cover-plate not illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, Fig. 4 is a plan view of another and preferred form of my invention. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the form shown in Fig. 4, partly in section. Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan of a detail.

The tracks 10 and movable members 11 and 12 thereof, constituting the movable part of the switch, are constructed in the usual or any desired or convenient manner. Connected with each'of the movable members 11 and 12 are slides 13 and 14:, respectively. These slides are mounted in ways 15 upon a foundation-frame 16. These ways extend transversely across the tracks, and the frame 16 is preferably located beneath the tracks. Each of these slides is provided with a secondary slide 17, the latter being normally forced from the former by means of a strong spring 18. The springs 18 are strong enough to cause the movement of the sections 11 and 12 when a moving force is applied to the slides 17. These slides are normally held only a short distance apart by means of rounded ends 19 and 20, forming a part of two oppositely-extending levers 21' and 22. These levers are ivoted to projections 23 on the foundationame by means of pins or studs 24. The long arm of each lever is provided with a roller 25 for receiving motion from the moving rolling-stock. Where the siding leaves the main track a branch 26 is connected with the lever 21 and is preferably provided with an arm 27, having a series of perforations 28, through which a pin 29 may be placed for securing the arm to the main portion of the long arm of the lever in the desired position. This branch is provided with a roller 25, and all of the rollers are normally .disposed in the center of the track to which they belong. It will be seen that by the movement of the rollers from the position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines the slides 17 will be moved in such a manner as to operate themovable sections of the track and cause the opening of the main line, so as to prevent the train from running onto the siding. It will also be seen that the levers can be manipulated in any desired manner so as to cause the train to move onto the desired track.

I preferably cover the foundation-frame and the main portions of the operating part described by a steel plate 30 to protect the parts from dirt and from interference on the part of unauthorized persons.

For operating the rollers 25 the cars or engines are each provided with a rudder 31, having a projection 32, extending forwardly therefrom and mounted pivotally upon a shaft 33. It will beseen from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the rudder can be turned in any desired manner so as to operate the device described above in either direction. This turning is preferably accomplished by a handie 34 upon the shaft 33. It Will also be desirable to provide means fornormally lifting the rudder out of such position as to enable it to engage with the rollers 25, and this is preferably accomplished by a spring 35, operating on a collar 36 on the shaft. The force of this spring can be counteracted'by a lever 37, pivoted to a stationary part of the car or engine. The downward movement of this lever will obviously force the rudder down into such position as to cause it to engage the rollers when the car or engine comes into proper position. A stop 38 is also preferably provided and may consist of a stationary bar extending down from the body of the vehicle and adapted to be engaged by projections 39 upon the rudder 31, the projections extending from the body of the rudder in two directions at an acute angle to each other.

It will be seen that by this construction a very efficient operating device for switches is provided, one which can be supplied and manufactured at small cost, one which can be easily maintained, not having delicate parts likely to get out of order, and one which would be protected from the action of obstructions and also from unauthorized parties.

It will be understood that the drawings described above illustrate only the principle of my invention and that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

In Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 I have illustrated a form of operating device which I prefer to use, although it is to be understood that both forms shown come within the scope of my invention. In these figures the rudder 31 is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 40, which is in turn mounted upon a car and is adapted to move longitudinally, so as to raise and lower the rudder. This shaft is provided with a spring 41, adapted to normally keep it in raised position, and with a pin 42. A cam 43 is movably mounted upon the car and is so arranged as to receive the pin 42, the camsurfaces 44 of the cam serving to lower the pin 42, and consequently the rudder, these parts being designed to be restored to normal position by the spring 41. In order to move the cam so as to accomplishthis motion of the rudder, it is pivotally mounted with respect to the shaft 41. This shaft is provided with an arm 45 extending therefrom, which by means of a link 46 is connected with an arm 47, mounted upon a vertical shaft 48. This shaft is provided with a lever 49 for turning it and simultaneously turning the cam. The operation of these parts will be obvious. When the lever 49 is in central position, the cam 43 will also be in central position and will permit the spring 41 to force the spring 42 and rudder 32 to the highest position, where it will escape the roller 25 in its motion along the track. When the lever is swung to either side, however, the rudder will not only be swung from one side to the other, but the surfaces 44 of the cam will act on the pin 42 to force the rudder into such position that it will engage the roller 25 upon one side or the other in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A switch-operating device for railways, comprising a foundation having ways transverse to the rails, a slide in said ways connected with the movable part of a switch, a second slide in the ways, a spring connecting said slides, and a lever adapted to engage the second slide for moving the first slide.

2. A switch-operating device for railways, comprising a foundation having ways and a pair of oppositely-disposed extensions located between the rails, a pair of slides movable along the ways and each connected with a movable part of a switch, and a pair of levers pivoted to said extensions and having their short arms extending to the center of said ways and adapted to move said slides, the long arms of said levers being provided with means for receiving motion from a moving train.

3. A switch-operating device comprising a foundation having ways, a pair of slides movable along the ways, a second pair of slides each resiliently connected with one of the first-mentioned slides and having a space between them, and a pair of levers pivoted to the foundation and having their arms located between said second slides.

4. A switch-operating device comprising a foundation having ways, a pair of slides movable along the ways, a second air of slides each resiliently connected wit one of the first-mentioned slides and having a space between them, a pair of levers pivoted to the foundation and having their arms located between said second slides, and a plate covering said foundation and a portion of said levers.

5. A switch-operating device, comprising ways,slides movable along the ways,slides resiliently connected with the'first-mentioned slides and separated from each other, means connected with said last-mentioned slides for moving the first-mentioned slides, and a plate covering said ways and a portion of said means.

6. A switch-operating device, comprising ways, apair of slides movable along the ways, a second pair of slides each resiliently connected with one of the first-mentioned slides and having a space between them, and means connected with the ways for engaging between the second pair of slides and operating them.

7. A switch-operating device, comprising ways, a slide in said ways connected with a movable part of the switch, a second slide in the ways, a spring connecting said slides, and means adapted to engage the second slide for moving the first slide.

8. In a switch-operating device for railways, the combination of a foundation having ways transverse to the rails, a slide mov- In testimony whereof I have signed my able along said Ways and connected with the name to this specification in the presence of.1o movalblelpxrt ofda switch,f alever for o ilerzit two subscribing witnesses.

ing t e si e, an means or swinging t e ever; said means comprising a rudder pivot- WILLSON HUBBARD ally and reciprocally mounted upon a Vehicle Witnesses:

which is movable along the track and a mov- R. S. COOK,

able cam for operating the rudder. H. E. COOK. 

